taken 7 years ago, near to Framlingham, Suffolk, Great Britain

St Michael's church in Framlingham - Hitcham bench (detail)

Bench end of the so-called Hitcham bench which was used by people living in the almshouses.

St Michael's church > Link dates mainly from the 14th and 15th centuries, the chancel was built in the 16th century. The building contains the original C14 font > Link and wooden cover, and a medieval wallpainting. It is one of only three East Anglian churches that have a hammerbeam roof with elaborate fan vaulting. Royal arms for Charles II (dated 1661) > Link bearing the initials of the rector and his churchwardens can be seen on the south aisle wall. The perhaps most noteworthy features of the church, however, can be found in the chancel, which was originally built to serve as a mausoleum for the Howard Dukes of Norfolk. Buried here are members of the most powerful family in their time:

The tomb of Thomas Howard, the third Duke of Norfolk, is believed to be one of the finest examples of Renaissance sculpture in northern Europe. The tomb beside his is of Henry Fitzroy > Link - an illegitimate son of King Henry VIII. His tomb is adorned by a frieze > Link depicting scenes from the Old Testament. The tomb of his two wives > Link - each died in childbirth - of the fourth Howard Duke (dating from around 1550) can be found in the north-east corner of the chancel > Link. It is adjoined by a small altar tomb which marks the site of the burial place of a daughter of the fourth Duke. The painted alabaster tomb standing against the north wall is for Henry Howard (the 'Poet Earl'), Earl of Surrey > Link - son of the third Duke and father of the fourth Duke.

Another noteworthy feature is the unique organ > Link. It was made by Thomas Thamar in 1674 for the chapel of Pembroke College, Cambridge. Many of these organs were destroyed by Cromwell's troops but this particular instrument still contains the original pipe work and hence constitutes a very rare survival.

The church > Link was restored in Victorian times when newly designed Cathedral glass > Link was fitted in the chancel south aisle windows, and the chancel walls were decorated using stencils > Link made by the firm of FR Leach and Sons of Cambridge. Mr Leach senior had learned his craft from William Morris, the founder of the Arts and Crafts Movement.